Explore the diverse breathtaking moments From urban streets to remote landscapes across the globe

In a stunning find deep in the woods of North Jura, Poland, metal detectorists have found a Roman sword from 2,000 years ago. The sword was in three pieces, which researchers think might mean it was part of a burial or ceremony.

ARTIFACT

In a stunning find deep in the woods of North Jura, Poland, metal detectorists have found a Roman sword from 2,000 years ago. The sword was in three pieces, which researchers think might mean it was part of a burial or ceremony.

ARTIFACT / Photography

Rock Crystal Flask from Ancient Rome, c.25 BCE: this stunning little flask measures just 5.7cm tall, and it was carved from a solid piece of rock crystal more than 2,000 years ago

ARTIFACT

Rock Crystal Flask from Ancient Rome, c.25 BCE: this stunning little flask measures just 5.7cm tall, and it was carved from a solid piece of rock crystal more than 2,000 years ago

ARTIFACT / Photography

A jade burial suit is a ceremonial suit made of pieces of jade in which royal members of China's Han dynasty were buried. The top one for example belongs to the king Liu Wu , and was made from more than 4,000 pieces of jade linked together with gold wire

ARTIFACT

A jade burial suit is a ceremonial suit made of pieces of jade in which royal members of China's Han dynasty were buried. The top one for example belongs to the king Liu Wu , and was made from more than 4,000 pieces of jade linked together with gold wire

ARTIFACT / Photography

Measuring 2.55 m in length, 1.3 m in width and 1.8 m in height, the oldest and best-preserved lacquered bed was found in 2000 in a tomb complex in Chengdu, China. It took 17 years for archeologists to restore the “dragon bed”, which is believed to have been used 2,500 years ago by a king

ARTIFACT

Measuring 2.55 m in length, 1.3 m in width and 1.8 m in height, the oldest and best-preserved lacquered bed was found in 2000 in a tomb complex in Chengdu, China. It took 17 years for archeologists to restore the “dragon bed”, which is believed to have been used 2,500 years ago by a king

ARTIFACT / Photography

A man recently uncovered this stunning 1,000-year-old Viking armband made of gold while using his metal detector on the Isle of Man

ARTIFACT

A man recently uncovered this stunning 1,000-year-old Viking armband made of gold while using his metal detector on the Isle of Man

ARTIFACT / Photography

2,700-year-old bronze sword found by a metal detectorist in a forest. Gdańsk, Poland, 900-700 BC

ARTIFACT

2,700-year-old bronze sword found by a metal detectorist in a forest. Gdańsk, Poland, 900-700 BC

ARTIFACT / Photography

A restored mural depicting seven female figures with raised hands and exposed breasts, reassembled from numerous fragments. The mural, which had sunk in Lake Constance in Germany almost 6,000 years ago, is the oldest figurative wall painting north of the Alps

ARTIFACT

A restored mural depicting seven female figures with raised hands and exposed breasts, reassembled from numerous fragments. The mural, which had sunk in Lake Constance in Germany almost 6,000 years ago, is the oldest figurative wall painting north of the Alps

ARTIFACT / Photography

2nd century CE Roman pipe burial from Wales. Within the tomb was a lead canister containing cremated bones and a piece of linen bearing traces of frankincense. Pipe burials are thought to have allowed relatives to pour blood or wine into the container to nourish the soul of the deceased

ARTIFACT

2nd century CE Roman pipe burial from Wales. Within the tomb was a lead canister containing cremated bones and a piece of linen bearing traces of frankincense. Pipe burials are thought to have allowed relatives to pour blood or wine into the container to nourish the soul of the deceased

ARTIFACT / Photography

Archaeologists have unearthed, in 2015, the oldest case of decapitation ever found in the New World. The skull belonged to a young man and was buried in Brazil about 9,000 years old, with severed hands covering its face in a mysterious pose

ARTIFACT

Archaeologists have unearthed, in 2015, the oldest case of decapitation ever found in the New World. The skull belonged to a young man and was buried in Brazil about 9,000 years old, with severed hands covering its face in a mysterious pose

ARTIFACT / Photography

The "Mask of Dresio". A Celtic iron age head from Ossola Valley, Northern Italy that was used as a fountain mask since possibly the Roman/Medieval era until recent years. It is now substituted with a replica on the fountain. Was originally either part of a statue or a sacred spring.

ARTIFACT

The "Mask of Dresio". A Celtic iron age head from Ossola Valley, Northern Italy that was used as a fountain mask since possibly the Roman/Medieval era until recent years. It is now substituted with a replica on the fountain. Was originally either part of a statue or a sacred spring.

ARTIFACT / Photography

The "Malone Hoard", consisting of 19 finely polished stone axes found at Danesfort in Northern Ireland. The axes, which are made from a stone called porcellanite, are too large and heavy for practical use, so they are thought to have had a ceremonial purpose. 4000-2000 BCE, Ulster Museum

ARTIFACT

The "Malone Hoard", consisting of 19 finely polished stone axes found at Danesfort in Northern Ireland. The axes, which are made from a stone called porcellanite, are too large and heavy for practical use, so they are thought to have had a ceremonial purpose. 4000-2000 BCE, Ulster Museum

ARTIFACT / Photography

2000 years old Roman cavalry spatha found in Częstochowa, Poland. Bit surprising find because it is for from the edge of Roman Empire. There is amber road going through Poland at this time. Sword broken in 3 places indicating funeral.

ARTIFACT

2000 years old Roman cavalry spatha found in Częstochowa, Poland. Bit surprising find because it is for from the edge of Roman Empire. There is amber road going through Poland at this time. Sword broken in 3 places indicating funeral.

ARTIFACT / Photography

DNA extracted from bones and teeth in a 4600-year-old stone age burial has provided the earliest evidence for the nuclear family as a social structure. The grave which was found in Germany, consists of 2 parents and 2 sons who were buried together after being killed in a violent conflict

ARTIFACT

DNA extracted from bones and teeth in a 4600-year-old stone age burial has provided the earliest evidence for the nuclear family as a social structure. The grave which was found in Germany, consists of 2 parents and 2 sons who were buried together after being killed in a violent conflict

ARTIFACT / Photography

The Vimose coat is a 22-pound piece of chain armor thrown into a Danish bog as a victory offering after battle some 1,800 years ago. Made by hand from nearly 20,000 tiny iron rings, it is the oldest completely preserved chain mail from Northern Europe

ARTIFACT

The Vimose coat is a 22-pound piece of chain armor thrown into a Danish bog as a victory offering after battle some 1,800 years ago. Made by hand from nearly 20,000 tiny iron rings, it is the oldest completely preserved chain mail from Northern Europe

ARTIFACT / Photography

In 2017, archaeologists discovered a 2300-year-old sword in a tomb among the ruins of Chengyang City in central China. When they unsheathed the blade from its muddied cover, they found it had not oxidised but was still sharp, shiny and in near-perfect condition

ARTIFACT

In 2017, archaeologists discovered a 2300-year-old sword in a tomb among the ruins of Chengyang City in central China. When they unsheathed the blade from its muddied cover, they found it had not oxidised but was still sharp, shiny and in near-perfect condition

ARTIFACT / Photography

A 2,000-year-old Roman tombstone has been found in a New Orleans backyard, left there by the granddaughter of a U.S. soldier who brought it from Italy during World War II. The tombstone belonged to a Roman soldier and sailor named Sextus Congenius Verus.

ARTIFACT

A 2,000-year-old Roman tombstone has been found in a New Orleans backyard, left there by the granddaughter of a U.S. soldier who brought it from Italy during World War II. The tombstone belonged to a Roman soldier and sailor named Sextus Congenius Verus.

ARTIFACT / Photography

A bear body made from clay with a bear skull in between its paws, made during the Upper Paleolithic and found in the Montespan cave in France. Riddled with holes from spear points, it was possibly used to teach hunting, or perhaps used for a ritual

ARTIFACT

A bear body made from clay with a bear skull in between its paws, made during the Upper Paleolithic and found in the Montespan cave in France. Riddled with holes from spear points, it was possibly used to teach hunting, or perhaps used for a ritual

ARTIFACT / Photography

Bajiao Ancient City, literally meaning "eight corners", was built during the Han Dynasty and has a history of 2,000 years. From an aerial perspective, Bajiao Ancient City appears to be a hollow cross with eight corners, hence its name. Gansu Province, China

ARTIFACT

Bajiao Ancient City, literally meaning "eight corners", was built during the Han Dynasty and has a history of 2,000 years. From an aerial perspective, Bajiao Ancient City appears to be a hollow cross with eight corners, hence its name. Gansu Province, China

ARTIFACT / Photography